Main » British reject May's Brexit plan, some turn to Boris and far right

British reject May's Brexit plan, some turn to Boris and far right

23 July 2018

Connexion has interviewed the French Interior Ministry about how France expects to deal with British citizens after Brexit (with or without a "deal") for our August issue, published next week.

"I think you're looking at no-deal or no Brexit and the only way your get no Brexit is if there's another vote and I wouldn't put any money on another vote happening either".

European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Friday listed many potential problems with the white paper, saying there can be no cherry picking when it comes to the single market where all trade comes under the same rule book.

The comments appeared at odds with Chancellor Philip Hammond, who said of the divorce payment last December: "I find it inconceivable that we as a nation would be walking away from an obligation that we recognised as an obligation". Raab replaced David Davis, who resigned two weeks ago to protest May's "soft" Brexit plan. "None. How many countries on April 1st next year will have no trade deals in place - one".

"We're going to have to do a reset and come back and look at it all again", he told the Sunday Express. Barnier said he had invited British negotiators to discuss the backstop next week. "We have a duty of care", Barnier said.

Major said holding a second referendum to gauge public sentiment now that more is known about the true impact of Brexit would be "morally justified" because Brexit advocates made so many inflated claims ahead of the June 2016 vote.

"This is what we're working for but, of course, we need to be prepared for all eventualities".

His damning comments lessen the likelihood that the PM will be able to come to an agreement with the European Union based on her White Paper proposals.

Speaking in Belfast, she said: "It is now for the European Union to respond - not simply to fall back on to previous positions which have already been proved unworkable, but to evolve their position in kind".

Mary Lou McDonald described Theresa May's visit and speech as "provocative" and said it did nothing to reassure widespread concerns over Brexit.

Barnier, however, added that "several elements [in the white paper] does open the way a construction discussion on the future".

He warned her plan - seen as a major concession by Brexiteers - for Britain to collect customs duties on the EU's behalf in order to maintain British-EU free trade in industrial and agricultural products may not be legally feasible, and that failing to submit the United Kingdom to a "common rulebook" on services as well as goods could lead to "unfair competion".

Representatives of the EU27 member states will meet in Brussels tomorrow to discuss the state of play in negotiations and the United Kingdom government's White Paper on the future relationship.